Resilient push rod for tractor truck mechanism



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E. F. NORELIUS. RES l L ENT PUSH Ron FOR TRACTOR TRUCK MECHANI SM.

FIL'ED SEPT UTN www a llatentecl l@ 1923.

UNITED EMIL F. NORELUS, 0F PEORA, LLIIAS, ASSIGNR TO THE HOLTMANUFACTURING CDMIPANY, OF STOCKTN, CALIFRNIA, A CORPRATION OFCALIFORNIA.

RESILIENT PUSH ROD FOR TRACTOR TRUCKIEECHANISM.

Application filed September 16,1919.

To al? w zom. t Imay Concern Be it known that I, EMIL F. NoRELiUs, acitizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the count-y ofPeoria and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Resilient Push Rods for 'Iractor Truck Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification.

rl`his inventionrelates to tractors of the chain track type, and mvoreparticularly to a yielding thrust connection between the main frame andthe roller truck mechanism ot' the general form shown and described incopending application Serial No. 290,431, filed April 16, 1919.

In the prior application, there is provided a yielding thrust connectionbetween the main trame and the track mechanism such that the truckmembers .may move rearwardly relative to the sprocket wheel and thusallow slack to be produced in the track, whereupon any obstructionscoming between the track chain and the sprocket wheels may pass aroundwithout danger of breaking the track.

In the present application, I have improved and simplified this thrustconnection in such a way that greater freedom ot movement between themain frame and truck mechanism is permitted and also the spring isenclosed in a manner to prevent deposit of mud thereon and consequentfailure or' the spring to function.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Fig, 1 shows a side elevation ofthe tractor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the yielding connection between themain frame and the truck frame, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

I? ig. 3 shows a sectional view, taken on the line 8 3 oflig. 2.

Fig. e shows a plan view of one member forming the connection.

The tractor herein shown comprises a main frame 10, on the oppositesides ot which is a truck mechanism made up ot truck members 11 and 12,hinged together at 13. The truck member carries a series oli rollers 111and the forward truck member has jonrnaled upon it an idler sprocketwheel 15. The driving sprocket wheel 16 is journaled upon the mainframe, and around 'this sprocket wheel and the idler wheel 15 and SeriaINo. 324,224.

passing beneath the rollers 14 is an endless chain 'track 17. rl`he mainframe is supported at each side upon the rear truck members by means ofsprings 18. and centrally upon the 'forward truck members bv means of atransversely extending equalize-i' bar 19; said bar 19 being pivotallyconnected to the main frame and to opposite forward truck members in amanner to allow the said truck members to rock vertically independentlyot each other and or' the main trame.

As im the device of the prior application above-mentioned I employ ayielding connection for the push-rod, such that these truck mechanismsare capable of moving relatively to the sprocket driving wheels whensufficientpressure is applied in that direction, and as a consequenceany obstruction falling upon the track could pass entirely aroundwithout danger of breaking any of the parts, inasmuch as this relativemovement between the. truck mechanism and the driving `sprocket wheelswill allow slack to be produced in the track to accommodate theobstruction. T he push-rod at each side is indicated by the numeral 21and is pivotally connected to the. main frame at 22. It has a ball Q3 atits forward end which seats in a socket 21 in a manner to allowuniversal movement. This socket 24 forms the head of a bolt Q5, whichlatter is slida'bly carried in a cylinder 26; said cylinder 2G beingformed upon a bracket QT, which bracket is rigidly connected tol theforward truck member, 12. `Within the cylinder' 26 and pressingrearwardly on the socket 21 is an expansible coil spring Q8 whichmaintains the slide bolt at its rearward limit ot movement, said limitbeing adjustably maintained by the nut 29 on said bolt.

'llhere is a. connection between each rear truck member 11 and the mainframe in the form of a pendent link 30, which link serves to prevent thetruck member `from dropping down too Ytar from the. main frame when.passing over a ditch or depression, but. in no wise prevents movementfore and aft relative to the main In operation, when suflicient force isap plied to the truck mechanism tendin move it rearwardly, it will beseen thaff spring E28 will be compressed and such movement of the truckme this is what occurs when any in struction becomes lo 'E the truckmember and sprocket wheels. Sufficient slack thereby produced inthetrack to permit the obstruction to pass safely around the -sprocketWheels.

The equalizer bar 19, as is well known in this type of tractor7 has acentral pivotal connection with the main frame and consequently it in nowise interferes with such movement of the truck mechanism as isnecessary to compress the spring QS and produce slack in the track. Inthe form herein shown the bracket 27, on which the cylinder 26 isformed., also houses a thrust yoke 3l, which yoke, as is understood inthis type of constructiom carries at its forward ends the bearings iorthe front idler wheel l5. The bearings are slidable upon the torwardtruck frame and are movable back and forth by lengthening or shorteningthe thrust yoke for the purpose ot taking up slack in the track due towear7 the said thrust yoke being made adjustable for this purpose. A

Due to the action oit' the equalizer' bar 19 there occurs a slightvariation in the distance between opposite truck mechanisms, when 'theyrock in a vertical plane or when they move rearwardly, being broughtsomewhat closer together at such times. For this reason the ball andsocket connection 223-24 is important, since it permits oi slightlateral deviation ot' each truck mechanism relative to the main frame.

The cylinder 2G formsan enclosed housing for the spring. and thusprevents lodging ot' mud on the spring. ll-Tithout-the housing theaccuniulated mud becomes caked and interferes with the action oi thespring.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of the several partsherein shown and described may he employed without departing from thespirit of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent isl. In a chain track tractor, the combination of a mainiframe, a driving sprocket wheel iiXed upon the main frame, a trucklmechanism carrying supporting rollers, an

idler sprocket Wheel, a yielding thrust connection between the truckmechanism and the main trame whereby the said truck mechanism is free tomove relatively to the driving sprocket wheel, said connectioncomprising a housing, a member slidabie within the housing7 a. springWithin the housing tor retaining the sliding member in extended positionand a push rod having a universal connection with the sliding member. f:2. In chain track tractor, the combination of a main Jframe, a drivingsprocket wheel fixed upon the main frame, a truck mechanism carryingsupporting rollers, an idler sprocket wheel, a yielding thrustconnection between the truck mechanism and the main trame whereby thesaid truck mechanism is tree to move relatively to the driving sprocketwheel, said connection comprising a housing on the truck frame, a rodslidable. within the housing, a spring within the housing` forretaining` the rod in extended position7 means for adjusting theposition ot the rod in the housing and a push rod between the slidingrod and the main trame.

In a chain track tractor, the combina.- tion of a. main frame, rollertruck mechanism at each side for supporting the main trame, ay sprocketwheel fortlie chain track fixed upon the main frame, a second sprocketwheel for the track mounted upon the truck mechanism, and thrust meansconnecting the truck mechanism to the main frame and yieldable to permitsaid truck mechanism to move relatively to the sprocket wheel on themain frame, said means comprising a housing on the truck mechanism7 a.spring within the housing7 and a rod slidable within the housing andheld extended by the spring, and a link pivotally connected to the mainframe and having a ball and socket connection with the spring pressedrod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

EMIL F. NORELIUS. VVit-nesses:

F RED Gnofrrs, WILLIAM TURNBULL.

